Amendment SSA1-SB481

LRBs0324/1

TJD:eev:jf

2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE

SENATE SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT 1, TO SENATE BILL 481

February 20, 2014 - Offered by Senator Risser.

SB481-SSA1,1,2 An Act to create 51.50 of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting sexual orientation change efforts on minors.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This substitute amendment prohibits a mental health provider, as defined in the substitute amendment, from engaging in any practice that seeks to change a child's sexual orientation, including an effort to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expression or an effort to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex. A mental health provider is not prohibited, under the substitute amendment, from providing counseling for an individual seeking to transition from one gender to another or psychotherapy that provides acceptance, support, or understanding of a client or the facilitation of a client's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development and that does not seek to change sexual orientation.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB481-SSA1,1 Section 1. 51.50 of the statutes is created to read:

SB481-SSA1,2,6 51.50 Sexual orientation change efforts. (1) Definition. In this section, "mental health provider" means a physician; a psychologist licensed under ch. 455; a social worker licensed or certified under s. 457.08; a marriage and family therapist licensed under s. 457.10; a professional counselor licensed under s. 457.12; and any other person who performs counseling as part of his or her professional training for any of the professions specified in this subsection.

SB481-SSA1,2,10 (2) Prohibition; exceptions. (a) A mental health provider may not engage in a practice that seeks to change a child's sexual orientation, including an effort to change behaviors, gender identity, or gender expression or an effort to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex.

SB481-SSA1,2,12 (b) Paragraph (a) does not prohibit a mental health provider from providing any of the following:

SB481-SSA1,2,14 1. Counseling for an individual seeking to transition from one gender to another.

SB481-SSA1,2,19 2. Psychotherapy that provides acceptance, support, or understanding of a client or the facilitation of a client's coping, social support, and identity exploration and development, including sexual orientation-neutral interventions to prevent or address unlawful conduct or unsafe sexual practices, and that does not seek to change sexual orientation.

SB481-SSA1,2,20 (End)